J Korean Clin Nurs Res.  2023 Dec;29(3):296-311. 10.22650/JKCNR.2023.29.3.296.

Factors Related to Workload of Intensive Care Unit Nurses: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Jeong AI
• Shin S
• Hong E

• KMID: 2551434
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2023.29.3.296

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify factors related to the workload of intensive care unit nurses through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to provide basic data to explore the direction of development of nursing staffing standards.
Methods
This study involved quantitative studies about nurses working in intensive care units related to nursing workload published in English or Korean since 2000. Search terms included 'intensive care unit', 'nursing workload', and their variations. Databases such as RISS, DBpia, MEDLINE(PubMed), CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were utilized. Quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. JAMOVI software facilitated the analysis of effect sizes, employing a meta-analysis approach for 7 studies with correlational or regression data.
Results
From 16 studies on the workload of intensive care unit nurses, a total of 20 patient and nurse-related factors were identified. Patient-related factors included severity of illness, length of stay, and age. Meta-analysis was conducted for three patient-related factors: age, severity of illness measured by SAPS 3, and length of stay. Only severity of illness measured by SAPS 3 was significantly associated with nurse workload (Zr=0.16, p<.001, 95% CI=0.09-0.24).
Conclusion
In previous studies, the characteristics of intensive care units and patients varied across studies, and a variety of scales for measuring workload and severity of illness were also used. Sustained research reflecting domestic intensive care unit work environments and assessing the workload of intensive care unit nurses should be imperative.

Keyword

Intensive Care Units; Nursing; Workload; Systematic Review; Meta-Analysis